1 Awards
2 Introduction
How time flies, Chris Paul currently fights for his 17th NBA seasons and already changed 5 different teams in the league. As you can see above, he won various awards and titles along the way to his final goal – Championship Ring. As a big fan of him since 2010, I would like to use two datasets [details could be found in About Section] to explore two questions related to offense, defense, and shot.
2. What are the keys of him to win the game?
3 Data Exploratory
3.1 Offense
3.1.1 Overall Field Goal Attempts & Field Goal Percentage
Besides in NOK team, above graph shows that his field goal attempts in 16 seasons can be divided into two groups, one is PHO, HOU, and LAC, the other is OKC and NOH. In the first three teams, winning games are not dependent on his field goal attempts, especially in the regular season, his field goal attempts even become lower when he won the games. However, things are totally different in the other groups. He needs to shot more to win the games, especially in the playoffs season.
Above graph shows the relationship between age and three field goal percentage related stats. It was amazing to keep the field goal percentage related stats above 45% in most his 16 seasons. In addition, the value and variance of his shooting field goal percentage related stats became worse as he was required to extend the shot range and make more 3-points shot in HOU.
Above interactive graph shows the relationship between field goal attempts and field goal percentage. Almost every trend line shows that when he made more field goal attempts, he would have higher field goal percentage. When you filter the regular season and zoom in, you can notice that he needs fewer shot attempts to get 50% field goal percentage in recent two seasons, which fits with my expectation: make fewer shots but gain more points. When you select the playoffs season only, compared with other seasons, the slope of trend line in HOU is flatter, reflecting his field goal percentage are quite stable no matter how many field goal attempts. The reason behind that might be shot range extension and isolation possession growth.
3.1.2 3-Points
Left graph shows his 3-points made and attempts percentage in different ages. Both the 3-points made and attempts percentage increased since 23 and arrived its peak around 33, when he was in Houston Rockets, a team encouraged players to shot 3-points. In current two seasons, he started made less 3-points so two stats gradually returned to his 23-years old level.
Right graph shows his shot zone distribution and his 3-points shots are mainly concentrated on Above the Break Three, which is right 45-60 degrees 3-points area. Although his 3-points percentage continuously decreased after 2018-2019 season, his shot attempts are more concentrated. In addition, Compared with six seasons in LAC, he tried more 3-points shots in the right corner in the Houston Rockets during only two seasons.
Above interactive graph show his 3-points shot distribution in a more detailed way. His 3-points shot attempts are concentrated on Above the Break 3. In the regular season, his Above the Break 3 shot attempts drop from 304.5 times per-season in Houston Rockets to 114.5 times per-season in Phoenix Suns. However, the number of Above the Break 3 shot made does not drop like that. Compared with Houston Rockets, he made only less 20 3-points shots in Above the Break 3 Area.
Therefore, he is more efficient in dealing with 3-points shot in Above the Break 3 Area currently. This idea also applies in the playoffs season, his 3-points shot in Above the Break 3 Area increased from 34% [HOU] to 36% [OKC] to 43% [PHO] during last four seasons with less 3-points attempts.
3.1.3 Free Throw
Above two graphs show his free throw attempts and percentage in different ages. His career free throw percentage in majority time is quite stable between 70%-80%. However, in the recent season, his free throw percentage has larger variance. Total Free throw attempts had several sharp decreased points, which also fits with his serious injury seasons, such as: 09-10 season Meniscus Tear [24 Years Old], dislocation of acromioclavicular joint [29 Year Old].
As expected, the interactive box-plot shows that Chris Paul tried to get more free throw attempts in the playoffs. In addition, his free throw attempts are similar in terms of game results in PHO, HOU, and LAC, but in other three teams, the game is more likely to win when he made more free throw attempts in the regular season. Another unexpected result is that when he gained more free throw attempts in HOU during playoffs, the game is more likely to lose.
The interactive bar plot with a average percentage line shows his free throw percentage against with different opponents. As a stable free throw made players, some patterns can be found. In the playoffs season during recent two seasons, his free throw percentage is not as stable as other seasons. In addition, in the regular season during last four seasons, he would have less free throw percentage when he against with Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, Sacramento Kings, and Indiana Pacers.